20220612-CAPITALSTYLEMAGAZINE-T-0 - Flipbook - Page 82
DA R K R O O M
BY PAUL W. GILLESPIE Capital Style
Splish splash
It was opening day.
The lines formed early at the park.
The familiar — and not so familiar — sights and
smells filled the air on a hot summer day. Eager,
masked patrons, carrying coolers and other gear for
the day, anxiously waited for the gates to open. A team
circled, leapt for a group high-five and took to the field.
When the gates finally opened, guests had their
temperatures checked and started filling the chairs.
Would they get a full season in? Or would the pandemic
end it early?
No, this crowd was not waiting for the Orioles to play
at Camden Yards. These were fans of aquatic sports, or
at least splashing around in the cool clear waters of the
local pool.
It was opening day at the Kenneth R. Dunn Municipal Pool at Truxtun Park in Annapolis last summer.
Once inside, the masks came off as guests spread
82 | SUMMER 2022 | capitalstylemag.com
out. Fathers hoisted their daughters in the air, splashing them into the water. Kids slid down the water slide
bursting from the end of the tube and into the pool.
The tiniest ones ran through the splash pads and waterfalls. This is where I spotted this young lady and her
little brother running about. I focused my camera on
them as the water cascaded down around them. I knew
the photograph I wanted to capture. The water, frozen
in time, stopped midair around a smiling child with
enough of a break to see their faces. They chased each
other through the waterfall with me clicking away. And
then, I got it. Summer of 2021 came and went.
Truxtun Pool remained open the entire summer
season and families were able to take a break from
pandemic life to have some fun. I went back another
day, with my swim trunks and some waterproof camera
gear to take some underwater pictures. I even rode
down the waterslide for some point-of-view photos.